Mental Health Retreats New England: Intensive Programs in Northampton, MA

E C

I have been in 12 step recovery for the last 30+ years and I have done so many different things to help myself recover from the trauma of my childhood. I reached out to Vickie for the retreat intending to do IFS work. I took a chance on the ART because I was desperate to

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Colleen

It is difficult to put into words just how transformative my time with you (Bambi) was. I know it’s early days so I don’t want to claim preemptive victory but in one situation after another I find myself thinking more lucidly and being more present. People have commented on me seeming “lighter” and it’s amazing

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E S

My intensive therapy retreat with Bambi was one of the most powerful and transformational therapeutic experiences of my life. After 14 years in recovery and a lifetime of being in and out of therapy, I was wary of ending up in a “Psych 101” situation that felt too broad or surface-level. However, this retreat was

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C E

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I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to Dr. Jordan who was a pleasure to work with. He provided a warm, welcoming and effective space for me to share and gain clarity and new perspectives in the areas I was seeking help. I appreciated the therapeutic modalities he used: EMDR (tapping), trauma informed therapy and various CBT and Jung-inspired talk therapy approaches & modalities. I appreciated his (seemingly) spiritual approach towards therapy, too. What a brilliant and warm psychologist. I have noticed changes and shifts in my thinking and perspectives, which feel really nice.

I felt that Dr. Jordan’s help was invaluable and effective for me. He also provided many reading material references as well as suggestions for me to explore around different spiritual centers and practices I may want to consider in California. I truly appreciated it all. He took notes on an iPad the whole time, we did tapping / EMDR for trauma releasing and he explained a lot of things to me and gave me the space to share without anything feeling unnatural or rushed. His office environment was also welcoming, lovely decor & scent with feel good vibes. The office was private, but in a small building with other people present which felt comforting and safe, which was important for me.

I highly value and respect Dr. Jordan’s years of experience and academic commitment in psychology. However, one thing that did come as a surprise to me during my retreat was: the lack of Richard Schwartz IFS certification of Level 1, 2, and/or 3. It was the main reason I initially chose Intensive Therapy Retreats, for your Richard Schwartz’s IFS certified therapy. It was on your website that your retreat services are practitioners of IFS modality. I felt like it was a misrepresentation of services that there was no certification. I don’t doubt Dr. Jordan’s skills in psychology which is why I hesitated to share this part of my feedback, as I didn’t want it to take away from the good work & help that Dr. Jordan provided to me, which I highly value and for which I’m grateful.

I share this feedback as I highly value and respect the field of psychology and keeping it credible and transparent. Maybe this was an oversight on how Intensive Therapy Retreats defines or classifies “IFS”, but since it is such a highly sought after modality of therapy, I wanted to bring the certification detail to your attention.

Once again, thank you. I would highly recommend Dr. Jordan for trauma informed & EMDR/tapping therapy and time traveling back into childhood to address unhealed traumas.

The retreat has changed my life. I had a major breakthrough about my childhood that gave me the validation and logic that I needed I have not gotten triggered by anything since the retreat; no physiological response such as heart pounding, chest tightness, rage I have neutral energy and created better boundaries with my mother

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Jacklyn Power

I’ve definitely noticed a gentler approach towards my anxiety. The imagery I established during the retreat are pillars of support I still lean on today! My perspective on life is more hopeful, open, and positive.

S F

It was incredible. I left the below review for Dr. Hamilton. I was slightly worried about the long days and cost but it was worth every minute and dollar. I highly recommend working with Dr. Hamilton. It’s hard to put into words his whole method because it is individually catered to each client, but it

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C F

I am still doing very well…I am not being triggered by the events about my husband’s health problems. Thanks for asking! I tell everyone about how great EMDR treatment is and how it saved my life which was out of control because I had PTSD. Thanks for helping me!

H G

1. What would you like to share about the primary issue(s) that you came to the ART Retreat to resolve? My main goal in coming to ART Retreat was to heal my anxiety/fear that I felt was holding me back in my daily life. 2. What interventions have you tried in the past to help

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D P

I liked the intensive format. It enabled me to stay focused on the trauma work. I had occasional unpleasant symptoms that I could no longer avoid. I decided to take action and finally reached out for help. I am so pleased with Hannah and the treatment she provided me. I now have found freedom and

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W L C

Since I began my trauma healing journey with Hannah my life has changed immensely. She has shown me incredible support and compassion, and fully allows her office to be a judgment free space. Her holistic approach to EMDR in combination with yoga and movement has allowed me to completely change the way I think and

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F V

I have wanted to write to you for some time now. I want to give you excruciating details of our (my internal family) progress. The work we did has helped me so much. I say a prayer to you daily. I love you, so deeply. There are no words—thank you. I wish I could write

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Homa G

I have felt huge shifts since my retreat. First I finally feel in charge of myself and my choices instead of feeling like a small onlooker just responding to things that I encounter. I have a good relationship with my mom, which I had written off before my retreat. I’m able to communicate with my

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Megan Boxberger

It is hard to describe the long-lasting impact of the ART. I experienced immediate relief after the sessions. My long-term trauma responses were mitigated by the ART. Honestly, I didn’t think that the effects would remain long-term. However, it has been more than a year and I am still experiencing the benefits gained in the

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S M

1. What would you like to share about the primary issue(s) that you came to the ART Retreat to resolve? To process some childhood trauma and cope with a toxic narcissist relationship that ending badly 2. What interventions have you tried in the past to help with the issue(s)? Self help books & Cognitive Behavioral

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Cathy Rodriguez

If I could give 10 stars I would!!!! My life has changed and the old memories were given a new perspective. I can Not say enough about my experience! A 1-1 time for you to take care of you. This experience was mind blowing and so comfortable!!!

Erica Kilcoyne

Hannah is an incredible therapist! She is empathetic, insightful, highly skilled and knew exactly how to help me in my healing process. I am SO grateful to her for that!

I have been meaning to tell you how valuable our sessions are to me daily. I had a horrific trauma the following week. The many things you guided me through were so helpful and still are. I am very grateful for your sharing your expertise, kindness, and boundless patience helping me.

D H

I can’t express how amazing and helpful Peter was in my EMDR intensive. I could not recommend this more. I’ve done years and years of therapy and with just 3 days with Peter the weight has been lifted from me. The importance of reorganizing memories cannot be understated. I am so grateful for this.

Aaron Cooper

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I was surprised that my recent retreat brought more healing than I even expected! Dr. Peter is a rare and highly gifted psychologist, in my opinion. He is so skilled that I felt better after 3 days then after one year of weekly CBT with a good psychologist. He isn’t just a good psychologist; he is a phenomenal one. His style is easy, non-judgmental, collaborative, and most importantly compassionate. But there is more than that.
Dr. Peter stands out because he works so hard behind the scenes, yet the time goes quickly, and he is masterful at helping the process be beneficial without becoming overwhelming. It feels very comprehensive! The office time feels like a time-warp where a day feels like several minutes, but you feel like years of healing were accomplished. He facilitates the process of the mind healing itself, like nothing I have experienced before.
Dr. Peter is intuitive and can track details while keeping concepts and the big picture in his mind for the entire time. He pulls out just the right details when needed.
This retreat far exceeded my expectations and I feel very different than after traditional therapy. Difficult memories hold less power and feel distant. Recalling them is less compelling and intrusive or if I do, I feel a strength in myself to handle it that was not there before. Previous triggers feel less powerful.
Dr. Peter has a rare gift both with his technical evidenced-based expertise and also just how compassionate and intuitive he is. He makes well-placed comments and organizes the time masterfully. I am beyond grateful for this amazing opportunity. As a mental health professional, myself, I can say with confidence that this is the real deal. This was both a mount Everest experience and a gentle nature walk.
Life throws many of us some difficult memories. Dr. Peter helped me see, feel and know that complex traumatic memories don’t have the last word in how I feel or live my life. A big thank you to Dr. Peter for becoming an Intensive Therapy EMDR / IFS specialist and sharing his gifts with me.

J A

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I did an intensive retreat with Vickie that utilized ART therapy, and I’ll start by saying that many of the testimonials I read before my retreat sounded legitimately too good to be true, much like the title of the creator of ARTs book on the therapy (Too Good to Be True? By Laney Rosenzweig) and I was slightly skeptical. I felt like I had “tried everything” and was a bit nervous to fail at achieving those same results from the reviews I had seen. But doing this retreat with Vickie was nothing short of remarkable- it was freakishly effective and life altering in the best way, and I would recommend this experience to anybody in a heartbeat- but especially to people who have tried many other types of therapy over the years only to remain “stuck” in whatever their specific circumstances may be. Also, to people who enjoy structure, science, and a goal for their therapy- even if that goal is somewhat nebulous at first.
Vickie is a magnificent therapist and clinician, and anyone who gets to work with her is so fortunate. She’s such a generous, kind, and wonderful person and she puts her all into this experience for clients. I will forever be grateful for her. And I will forever be grateful to Laney Rosenzweig, the creator of ART, for her amazing brain, dedication, and passion that has allowed for ART not only to be available at all, but especially in the context of an intensive retreat. I feel renewed, genuinely. If you asked me a month ago if I’d be leaving a review like this after the retreat, I would have been cautiously optimistic- yet a bit skeptical like I said above. However, I mean every word of this with every fiber of my being.
I am genuinely astonished by the results I had- since the retreat I have spoken in ways about myself, my future, and my capabilities that I haven’t heard come out of my mouth in years, or ever. My capacity for self compassion and compassion for others, my trust in myself, and joy I wasn’t sure would ever come back have increased dramatically. Those closest to me have said I sound different, and notice the huge changes that I do too. Relationships that were already great have somehow gotten even better. My startle response is all but gone, I don’t have anxiety in cars, I have energy that had been gone for years, and I’ve felt truly present for the first time in ages. Things feel possible, and I have found confidence I had believed was lost forever. I’ve had little moments of having tears of gratitude and awe no less than 20 times since the middle of the retreat and it ended ten days ago.I think the most wild result, though, is that my crushing PMDD symptoms have not shown up at all, where they typically did like clockwork every two weeks and should have ten days ago. Now, am I saying my life is suddenly perfect? Most certainly not. But I am saying that with old traumas having been processed in this manner, in addition to the myriad individual positive changes I’ve noticed I now also feel equipped for life ups and downs in a way that I never have before. Life used to really scare me, and now it feels like a blessing and also something that I can handle when it hits the fan.
A quote from Laney’s book says, “To experience the therapy is to know it is real, and to see someone you love having been healed thanks to ART is to know it is real.” and this statement could not be more true for me. Thank you so very much to everyone involved in this process, this was the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done for myself.

Grace Miller

Was a life-changing experience for me. Thank you for providing this service.

Heather Kenney

For 62 years I was the typical “I don’t need therapy” guy. Then I went through the intensive program with Ross and quickly learned how wrong I was. The issues I had experienced were disguised as events I thought I left far behind. Truth was, they were far behind, but still chained to me. The

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John Morin

My 5 day Intensive EMDR retreat gave me a new and improved sense of self-awareness and self love by allowing me to look deep within myself. This office is a very safe and entirely accepting space. Bambi helped me walk through painful memories in order to process my trauma by gently nudging me to step

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Sky Yamagiwa

GAME CHANGER! EMDR/ART therapy is life changing. April is amazing at her job and made me feel at ease when I was very shook up and overwhelmed. She matched me with the perfect therapist for my retreat, Amy. Amy also is phenomenal at her job and helped me more than I could have ever expected!

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Janina Simutis

Intensive Therapy Retreats made a profound difference on my mental health and my life. Working with Nikki was unlike any therapy I’ve received in the past. She helped me bring my life into the present and release past traumas that were impacting my current and future life. I am eternally grateful to Nikki and Intensive

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Sophia Dunlap

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Kayla Olvera Hilario

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1. What would you like to share about the primary issue that you came to the Accelerated Resolution Therapy retreat to resolve?
Childhood issues still affecting adulthood, medical trauma, family addiction and coping skills to be able to live with someone who is still causing trauma.
2. What interventions have you tried in the past to help?
Talk-Therapy, Marriage Therapy, speaking with Addiction Counselors, Gottman Marriage Retreat.
3. How did the Accelerated Resolution Therapy retreat compare in regard to ability to decrease symptoms that are related to the issue?
Resentments, Anger and Confusion are no longer there. Clarity is still there on the actual events that caused resentments, but anger doesn’t consume every moment. I’m particularly impressed at my current ability to not react to those trying to get a reaction from me, as well as my ability to give my kids the daily tools to handle situations.
My family is seeing a huge difference in my calmness — and what I love — Is that they are matching my energy! It’s radiating throughout generations, because one person was impacted from ART.
4. Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love how much ART is paving the discussion in my extended family. Taking the discussion of getting help beyond just “getting help,” but what kind of help will be the most successful and why.
Taking the extended time (5-Day) was absolutely necessary to get the mind in a better place for success. I questioned whether or not I needed it, but what I worked through on Day-5 brought it all together. It’s hard to fathom how a successful ART could work within a 1-Hour session.
My ART Therapist (Vickie) brought a theme to what we were trying to accomplish overall that continuously grounded me and carries me day to-day chaos back home. 4 Kids, full time job, and back to 100% at 5am the morning after treatment. But Accelerated Resolution Therapy gave me tools to be able to react to that abruptness with calm in the chaos. It can only be viewed as: Clarity in the Chaos. It no longer feels like the glass is full of stress and each additional drop of water will send larger amounts spilling over.

Jenn M

1. What would you like to share about the primary issue(s) that you came to the ART Retreat to resolve? My life hasn’t been a life of overwhelming and horrific trauma, but over the course of my life, a series of events added up to a serious traumatic experience. 2. What interventions have you tried

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Jeff S

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Hi Vickie, I wanted to thank you again for all of your incredible hard work, I’m so grateful for your ART therapy, and that I made the trip.
1. What would you like to share about the primary issue(s) that you came to the ART Retreat to resolve?
I have done traditional therapy to deal with some family issues and trauma, and it’s been absolutely life changing. However, I felt that there was still more to work on, that I still wanted some further resolution or something. I was still always looking for something more, more healing and peace, and to really let things go. ART came about since I started therapy. I felt that it could take me further in healing, and in a quicker amount of time. There was also something that continually pulled me to go and try and I listened to that voice, and I’m so happy that I did.
2. What interventions have you tried in the past to help with the issue(s)?
Traditional therapy
3. How did the ART Retreat compare in regard to ability to decrease symptoms or resolve the symptoms that are related to the issue(s)?
It’s the most peaceful that I’ve felt in years. Seriously, years, perhaps the most peaceful that I’ve ever felt. It’s transformative and I’m incredibly grateful to you for your vast passion and dedication to helping me. I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am, and the wash of peace over me since attending. Also, I feel a dedication to maintain my boundaries and peace, and I learned a great deal of tools through the process. I also now have information at my fingertips. Incredibly Thankful & Peaceful!!!
4. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Due to some change in circumstances, I didn’t end up starting the day after flying, but several days after arriving. This was not originally planned, but it was a huge blessing in disguise. I think if I had started the day after I arrived in CT, I would have been too tired to be so productive. It was much better to start being rested and coming to it from that place.

Barb H

1. What would you like to share about the primary issue(s) that you came to the ART Retreat to resolve? I am a clinical psychologist who has been dealing with anxiety, secondary trauma and attachment issues for a long time. My issues affected my personal relationships and led to an overall dissatisfaction with my life.

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Andy M Davidson, Psy.D, ABPP

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First and foremost Thank you. Thank you for science, thank you for giving me my life back, thank you for opening up a world for me that I had no knowledge of ever experiencing.
When I was searching for a therapy that would help me with my PTSD, depression and anxiety I expected something like what I had experienced over the last 10 years. Talk therapy and even a stay in a treatment facility that I felt might help me. Though I took some small steps forward I was still so far away from my goal of feeling whole and at peace. Being 64, all I wanted was to live life with some joy and happiness. What I wanted and what I had achieved fell very short of these hopes and wishes.
What I found was you Laney and you Vickie and ART. When I first watched your TED talk and saw the parent store it struck such a deep emotion in me that I teared up. It’s imperative to know that I learned from earliest childhood that crying had deep consequences and I almost never even felt that urge. I wanted a new parent more than anything I could imagine.
So I read the ART website completely, twice over! I heard you say, Laney, that science was the key and as Vickie will confirm, I am all about the science. I watched every video, TED talk and read every study done on ART, and found a ray of hope. Vickie, your videos spoke to me and I made plans to do the 5-day retreat. I almost didn’t go because I was afraid that if this failed my lifeline would be dashed and my future dark.
What I found was astonishing and beyond anything I could have hoped for. All of my deepest and darkest traumas, physical, psychological and sexual could be reframed and put in their place. As I saw in the TED talk, I know the facts but I don’t have the trauma that I had been carrying my whole life and even more amazing I realized how much I have accomplished and would never had made these choices without the trauma. As I told Vickie. I am the strongest person I know. Both of you gave me this. The knowledge and understanding that I am not just the sum of my PTSD, I AM PTG (post traumatic growth).
The physical and psychological gifts that I have in my toolbox leave me breathless. I am still walking around above the ground. When I finally realized a new emotion that I had never felt and named it peace, I could for the first time in my life be truly happy and whole.
I will be shouting ART’s praises as often and as loud as I can to anyone who will hear and listen. If there is anything I can do as a successful recipient of this amazing science, all you need to do is ask.
So I don’t go on and write my own soliloquy, let me just say again thank you for developing ART and sharing it with me and Vickie thank you for your compassion and caring and I will always remember, neurons that fire together wire together!

Cathy Shapiro

I just wanted to express how grateful I am for the clarity you’ve brought to my life. Feels like I’ve truly woken up from being brainwashed. I can start to live MY life now.

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My early life was riddled with sadistic trauma. It affected my sense of self and impacted all areas of my life. I spent decades in therapy doing hard work to not just survive, but to transcend what happened to me and enjoy the best semblance of a good and full life possible. I thought I’d arrived!
Then I retired, moved a thousand miles from where I’d lived my whole life, and the pandemic hit with its inherent isolation and messages of an unsafe world. Slowly at first, then like a high speed train, fear and hopelessness, and anger became a regular part of my life. I was devastated and sometimes on the farthest edges of safety. How could I’ve worked so hard, for so long, be so dedicated to healthy thinking and behavior, and now be falling apart?
My therapist and I worked hard, increased sessions, and did all each of us could conceive of to help me return to peace. Something had the work stymied. One day my therapist said, “I think you need more than we have been able to do; a different kind of intervention. I’m picturing something like a retreat or an intensive.” Solid in my intent to feel better and using the magic of the Internet, I found Jordan.
Right off the bat, Jordan understood my crippling psychical pain and assured me we could relieve it. I grilled him before committing and so did my therapist. We wanted to know if Jordan was safe and if he was “the real deal.” He was both and so much more.
Jordan’s prep work helped me look at the whole of what was challenging me and set priorities for the work. I identified two big trouble areas with several lesser issues. Jordan led me through trauma work with my past and my internal parts in an intensive setting of 6 hours a day for 5 days. The work was hard but not intolerable; parts of the work were actually gentle. My therapist bolstered my bravery for the work when she said, “There isn’t anything that you’ll remember/experience that you haven’t already survived.”
I’m still perplexed as to how IMTT and EMDR work … but they worked very well for me. My main goals for the week were met (and they were big!) and a few other issues got resolved too. Enough pressure released that I could return effectively to the work with my regular therapist and peace has a place in my life again. Jordan is a master guide to the work. I’d recommend him to family, friends … and you.

The retreat was both therapeutic and transformational. During my time with Nikki I was able to put into perspective past events to make more room for my present life. Although I still struggle, I have more motivation to keep going and do things for myself. I am so thankful for Nikki and her ability to

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So much has changed in my life! I feel free from so much trauma. I have more time In the day as I’m not bogged down with negative, self destructive thoughts. I am so grateful!

Right from the moment I first talked with Amy I knew she would be a great fit. Her gentle, encouraging ways made me feel at ease and helped me to open up and explore the past. I knew she would be there to guide me through it and I went into it with minimal fear.

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Janet Y

When I met Amy we connected right from the start. She introduced me to ART Therapy and my life changed dramatically. I was finally able to control my trauma and not have it control me anymore. Her healing hands are a true gift.

D.E.

The best part of my 5-day retreat with Dr. Bambi Rattner is that she was able to reach my trauma in such a gentle way. Bambi is compassionate, healing, gracious, sensitive, honest and funny. My retreat went by so quickly, even while spending 7+ hours with Bambi every day. I loved how kindly she brings

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Judy G

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My first week back home I received a priceless gift in Dr. Hamilton; a brilliant, gifted master in the healing of trauma through Developmental Needs Meeting Strategies and EMDR. In my nearly three years with Dr. Hamilton, I formed a potent foundation of real adult resources within myself for me to constantly draw upon. I have adult nurturing skills, adult protective skills and a clear core spiritual self which puts the source of my healing within myself, away from involving others which distances me from codependence. By focusing on my recovering adult self of today and meeting the unmet needs of my wounded little boys in real time, I am re-parenting my self one snapshot at a time, literally healing many major wounds from my childhood. This healing allows me to progress in the healthy development I didn’t get from my biological parents so many years ago.
I have closed my eyes and seen back in time: weeks, months, years, decades; back to when I was very young, at my conception and then before I even existed in this world. I was pure light and energy then and so my goodness springs from that spiritual purity. Internalizing my sense that I am clean and valuable without earning it frees me from relying on others to provide my sense of self and worth. There is a clear boundary between myself and others, creating safety and peace for me, empowering me the find highest and best for me.
I really believe in the laws of attraction and somehow at the depths of my descent into hell the universe provided me with people who were capable of helping me find my way. But only if I was willing to do the difficult and painful work.
The Meadows was my first awakening to light; the first genuine look at my life and my counselors there were adept at bringing it all to the surface while pointing me in the direction of long term recovery.
My psychologist, Dr. Jordan Hamilton, could not have been a better match. He gently, firmly and tenaciously led me to the roots of my self and my pain and back through to a goal that most therapists do not do: healing and beyond. His agenda was not perpetual 50 minute rap sessions that ended with more questions and a vague flicker of hope, but rather repairing the damage to the fabric of my life, one mosaic patch after the other. Each time we met was action and tangible progress.
Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy is just that: meeting my needs which were not met before, allowing me to develop into wholeness and move beyond the roadblocks of trauma and resulting dysfunction. He is an expert in DNMS and EMDR protocol and I am eternally grateful for his intuition, keen insight, sensitivity and sheer brilliance.

Paul Howell

I can’t begin to thank you enough for all the help you have given to me. I feel so much better and lighter. You are very good at what you do! Thanks tons.

C Thompson

As a career Public Safety Chaplain for over 25 years, I have had the opportunity to make numerous referrals to Dr. Jordan Hamilton, Ph.D. for those public safety professionals and family members who need a specific standard of care that I recognized he could provide. Those who have received treatment or therapy through his practice

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Chaplain Mark O’Sullivan, M. Min. P.S.

I recommend Dr. Hamilton. He’s highly knowledgeable, compassionate and has a wonderfully gentle sense of humor. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him from others as well.

Janet Johnston

I am a physician specializing in mood disorders with practices in Roseville, Folsom and Yuba City. I have been referring my patients to Dr. Hamilton for over fifteen years. Without exception, every one of my patients have been helped and have had nothing but the highest opinions of both of these exceptional psychotherapists. He has

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Peter Knoblich M.D.

Dr. Hamilton is a gifted psychologist who has tremendous compassion and expertise when working with individuals, couples and families. I highly recommend his center for anyone needing help with individual, family, child or couples issues.

Joe Bavonese

I have known Dr. Hamilton for 35 years. He has consistently shown himself to be a man of integrity and compassion. Not only is he very competent in his profession, but he is skilled in walking step by step with his patients, showing them the path needed for their healing. I am proud to be

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Carol Visser

When your ego is breaking apart you can feel stuck with trauma and a lot of blocked emotions you collect through your life. You need to let all those emotions go to become your new self. Bambi with her kindness, love and knowledge was the person that helped me to become my new version of

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Pablo G.

I really felt cared for and appreciated your ability to connect and also share insights, humor, and to think outside the box.

D.C.

I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more seen by anyone than I did with Brian. Through working with him I felt truly strong and able to live my life fully for possibly the first time. I feel like all my pieces have been put back together into a shape that feels good to inhabit.

G.B.

Brian was fantastic! I had strong hesitations about working with a male therapist, but he far exceeded my expectations. Although the treatment itself was quite intense and emotional, it was a pleasure to work with someone as patient, gentle, compassionate, intuitive, and non-judgmental.

A.E.

Brian helped me immensely. He was patient, knowledgeable and kind. Brian gave me many useful tips that I still use today. The EMDR seemed to help immediately for me. It felt like real closure once the session was done.

L.O.

I am filled with gratitude for the experience because it helped jumpstart my healing process and connect me to pieces of myself I had completely lost. I was only able to have this transformative experience because of the work of Brian.

S.A.

As someone who has suffered from debilitating trauma, traditional forms of behavioral therapy were a frustratingly ill fit. The practice of EMDR as administered by Brian, a thoughtful and holistic practitioner, feels comparatively like a miracle.

R.A.

By taking the teeth from my most traumatic experiences I have made room to usher in a clarity I never thought could be available to me.

G.R.

I am both a bodyworker and psychotherapist. I really, really enjoyed and appreciated Ross’ ability to bring these two approaches together to address the body’s role in therapy, and the mind’s role in contracted muscles, and habitual, health negating postures. But what stands out the most in having worked with Ross is you really know

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Elena V, MT, LMFT

With other therapists, I’ve often felt as if I was running in place. Ross gets things moving. He’s extremely intuitive and has introduced me to EMDR, which is one of the most successful tools I’ve ever used in therapy. Ross’s work has helped me resolve issues that have been with me for years.

Eric B.

I have worked with Ross on several occasions and found his knowledge and experience to be very helpful to me as I’ve faced and worked through mental health issues. His approach is always professional and human. There was an immediate connection between us. He got to the core of issues and gave me practical steps

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Bruce S

I have worked with Ross for many years. He is a genuine, compassionate therapist – someone who makes you feel valued and heard. He has incredible positive energy which he directs to both the advancement of his own learning and supporting his clients. Down to earth, grounded, warm and intelligent – highly recommended!

B.R.

Ross worked with my partner and me after we had realized we couldn’t reconcile. We had one of the most difficult challenges before us that parents can have – how to let our daughter grow up with two parents, though they lived far apart. He got us both to see reality, helped us agree to difficult compromises

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John R.

I have worked extensively with Ross in both individual and couples therapy. I’ve never met another therapist with such extensive knowledge of the complex dynamics that exist in a relationship. The time I’ve spent with him has helped me show up in my own relationship in ways that I never dreamed. My level of patience,

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Kris M.

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At the very beginning of my intensive retreat with Bambi she told me that the process would open up my life to all the universe had to offer. That was a very nice thought but I had no idea that it would completely change my life. After struggling with chronic Lyme disease for 13 years and struggling to care for my disabled adult son I had lost my career, profession, and family. I believed that I would never be able to work again or be able to contribute to the world in any way. I had completely given up on my childhood dreams even before I reached adolescence.
After the first session I experienced a strange tingling sensation running from my brain all the way down through my legs to my feet. It felt as if my brain was reconnecting to parts of my body that had been disconnected all my life. I then had a series of quite severe Lyme die-offs and I lost a great deal of my anxiety and depression and I thought this is what she meant by “opening up my life”. It was wonderful but the best was yet to come. Just after the beginning of Covid and before our last retreat I received a phone call from the sister of a woman that I had worked for over twenty years ago which resulted in me acquiring my absolute dream job, the one I had abandoned in childhood.
I believe that the therapy removed the trauma-induced blockages in my brain so that its immune system could deal with the Lyme and I now have more energy than I have ever had in my life. I am not as anxious as I was and the depression has gone completely. My ADD is very much better and I regained my ability to count! Changes are still occurring as I deal with life’s usual challenges in different and more productive ways. Most importantly I am present in my own body, in my life and in my son’s life. Bambi is a highly skilled therapist and a warm, caring, sensitive and empathic person who has brought such incredible joy into my life. I highly recommend this process to anyone who has experienced trauma and especially to people who are struggling with chronic Lyme disease.

Josephine Burnett, PhD

Dr Bambi Rattner worked with me doing intensive EMDR after my mother had passed. I was experiencing a reactivation of my PTSD from the sudden death of my father when I was a kid, that got reactivated from my mother’s recent death. It would have been a much longer road of healing without Dr Bambi’s

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Dr Kate Klemer, DC, RCST

It seems impossible to describe the extent of the positive impact that Bambi’s intensive therapy brought to me. The first night after about 5-6 hours of her intensive trauma therapy, I experienced a new sense of serenity that I had not felt for close to 15 years. Physically and mentally, it felt similar to when

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C.T.

As someone who has struggled with suicidal depression since childhood, I have done important work with many therapists, counselors, and healers. But Bambi Rattner is the first to help me recognize, name, and face my deepest wounds, and to compassionately embrace the parts into which I broke myself to survive. Bambi has not only shown

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Joy Ladin

I have participated in intensive therapy with Dr. Bambi Rattner on three different occasions. I had not done a therapy intensive before and was hesitant, but Bambi made me feel comfortable right from the start. She is warm, accepting, non-judgmental, and deeply kind. As a trauma survivor, it is hard for me to feel safe with people and

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Jessica B.

…

My life had become like ashes in my mouth. I felt nothing but fear, and maybe shame, but not even much of those because I was so shut down by a lifetime of “sucking it up” and “pulling myself up by my bootstraps” until, one day, those bootstraps ripped off in my hands. I was irritable, underemployed, joyless, easily startled, didn’t sleep much (and had nightmares when I did), deeply unsatisfied, lonely (despite work, family, and friends), and more often than not looking forward to the end of my miserable life.
All this came to pass despite 22 years of continuous sobriety as an active member of a 12-step program, plus years of talk therapy. And then a trusted person suggested I contact someone who could help me make the changes I needed to make. Bambi Rattner, Psy. D., engaged me in six solid days of a memory reconsolidation therapy called Progressive Counting (same principles as EMDR, but a different method, which she also knows well) and I put a past behind me that I barely knew I had. I slept a lot the next two weeks, then woke up a different person.
At 56, I was finally myself. Late, yes, but so much better than never. I was free of my intrusive memories from childhood and those gleaned from the dubious adventures that those awful childhood experiences caused me to seek as an adult. That’s what trauma really is: memories that won’t leave you in peace. In the years following treatment my marriage rekindled, my career changed (starting with a master’s degree at age 60!), my children forgave me for being so checked out for so many years, and I finally got to be a full participant in my life. I know joy now. And love. And sorrow—even anger and a useful amount of fear.
I can’t guarantee the same for you because this is my story. But I have since witnessed many people come through this treatment in far better shape than they went in. That much I can promise you. And Bambi knows how to get it done quickly, professionally, and discretely. I’d pick her again in a heartbeat for myself or anyone else I love.

Don Cuerdon

I sought out Bambi’s help for my son when he was 5 years old and suffering from behavioral outbursts and PTSD from early childhood trauma. I was impressed with Bambi’s abilities. She was always very calming and engaging. She was able to guide him through past traumatic memories in a way that allowed him to

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G. O.

Bambi was an integral part to overcoming issues I was still dealing with from my past. She is very kind, open, listens, and provides positive direction to her clients. I felt extremely comfortable working with her and had no trouble opening up and talking. She really helped improve my depression and anxiety in a short

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Heather Clifford Moros

I knew I was in good hands… Bambi demonstrated just the right balance of abiding kindness and exceptional knowledge in her craft as a trauma therapist. She brought me through a week-long intensive EMDR retreat in a way that felt safe and productive. She genuinely cared and responded with attunement and warmth to the varied

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Traccie Hilton, LMHC

Expert Team, Exceptional Care

Stronger Bond

Our Dedicated Team

At Intensive Therapy Retreats in Northampton, MA, our team consists of highly skilled psychologists and psychotherapists who specialize in trauma and PTSD therapy. Each therapist brings a wealth of experience, compassion, and dedication to the practice, ensuring that all clients receive the highest standard of care. Our professionals are trained in the latest therapeutic techniques, including EMDR, IFS, and ART, making them adept at handling complex trauma cases with sensitivity and expertise.

growth

Client-Centered Care

We believe in the importance of creating a therapeutic alliance where clients feel seen, heard, and valued. This approach fosters a safe space for clients to explore their deepest vulnerabilities and strengthens the therapeutic process. Our team's commitment to empathy and professionalism is evident in every interaction, providing a solid foundation for effective therapy and lasting healing.

Accommodations

The Hotel Northampton

Historic Accommodations
5 min walk from office
36 King St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 584-3100
Website
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Fairfield Inn & Suites

New and Clean Location
15 min walk from office
115A Conz St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-9800
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D. Hotel Suites & Spa

Boutique Hotel
10 min drive from office
1 Country Club Rd
Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 533-2100
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Restaurants

Jake's

Breakfast Fare
5 min walk from office
17 King St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 584-9613
Website
Reviews

Bueno y Sano

Mexican Cuisine
5 min walk from office
134 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-7311
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Reviews

Amanouz Cafe

Mediterranean Cuisine
5 min walk from office
44 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 585-9128
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Filos Greek Taverna

Greek Cuisine
5 min walk from office
279 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-3456
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Thai Garden

Thai Cuisine
5 min walk from office
2 Bridge St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-3336
Website
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Paul and Elizabeth's

Veg/Pescatarian Cuisine
5 min walk from office
150 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 584-4832
Website
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Fitness & Embodied Practices

Karuna Center

Yoga and Healing Arts
5 min walk from office
25 Main St 3rd Floor
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 535-9180
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Back Stop Seated Massage

Chair Massage
5 min walk from office
150 Main St 2nd floor
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 563-8211
Website
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Noho Community Acupuncture

Group Acupuncture
5 min walk from office
160 Main St #23
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-8251
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Shopping

Thornes Marketplace

Busy Indoor Market
5 min walk from office
150 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 584-5582
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Inspirit Crystals

Gemstones and Gifts
5 min walk from office
219 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 585-1169
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Roz's Place

Vintage Clothing
10 min walk from office
6 Bridge St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-4381
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Your Next Steps Towards Healing

Reaching Out: Beginning your healing journey with Intensive Therapy Retreats is just a phone call or email away. Our staff is ready to answer your questions, provide more information, and guide you through the initial steps of arranging your retreat. We understand that reaching out for help is a significant step, and we are committed to making the process as seamless and supportive as possible.

Personalized Consultation: Every potential client is offered a personalized consultation to ensure our retreats and therapy methods align with their needs and goals. This initial consultation is a vital part of our process, allowing us to understand your story and tailor our approach to suit your path to healing. It's also an opportunity for you to learn more about us and feel confident in your choice to embark on this journey with Intensive Therapy Retreats.

Your Retreat Space

Our office is located within the historic Quaker building in the heart of downtown Northampton and offers complete privacy and security during your retreat.

Map of Northampton, MA

Address:
43 Center St, Suite 304, Northampton, MA 01060

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Weather in Northampton, MA

Mist

thermostat

33°F

Temperature

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5mph

Wind Speed

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97%

Humidity

About Northampton, MA

The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence and Leeds) was 28,549. Northampton is home to Smith College, Northampton High School, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, and the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech.

Neighborhoods in Northampton, MA

Leeds, Downtown, West Hatfield

Things To Do in Northampton, MA

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Historic Northampton

The Botanic Garden of Smith College

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4.7 (209)

Smith College Museum of Art

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4.7 (166)

Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area

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Pulaski Park

Connecticut River Greenway State Park

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Skinner State Park

Look Memorial Park

Mass Audubon Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary

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4.6 (542)

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

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4.8 (330)

Mt. Holyoke Summit House

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4.7 (614)

Mount Holyoke Range State Park

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Dinosaur footprints

Mount Tom State Reservation

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4.3 (1136)

Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center

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Springfield Museums

Academy of Music

Calvin Theater

Chicopee Memorial State Park

Bus Stops  in Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                    
                    Bus Stop in Greyhound: Bus Stop Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Northampton Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Peter Pan Bus Terminal Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Stop and Shop Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Prospect Street Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Northampton Post Office Bridge Street Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Locust / Prospect (2) Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Smith College Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in King St and Barret St Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Northampton Court House Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Sheldon Field (E) Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Bus Stop in Hampshire Plaza/ Big Y Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
Driving Directions in Northampton, MA to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                    
                    Driving Directions from The Northampton Center For Couples Therapy to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from An Affair Of The Heart to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from The Center for Healing Journeys, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Treatments to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Couples Center of the Pioneer Valley to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Somatic Center to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from The Retreat at Norwich Lake to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Euphoria Float Spa to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Pioneer Valley Shambhala Meditation Center to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Windhorse Integrative Mental Health to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Kristen Chamberlin, MS, LMT, SEP, RSMT to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Sanctuary to Intensive Therapy Retreats
                
                    Driving Directions from Montague Retreat Center to Intensive Therapy Retreats

Reviews for Intensive Therapy Retreats Northampton, MA

Sarah Lipton

Honestly - I can fully say that those three days with Nikki were LIFE changing. There are still bumps and challenges in the road, but I have thoroughly re-done myself. I have had an incredible feeling of relief and un-burdening since the retreat, and I am beyond grateful for the undoing!!!!!

Kayla Olvera Hilario

I loved my session with Vickie. It was amazing and transformative. I have grown emotionally and in my mental health. Since the retreat, I was able to make some difficult decisions that I had been struggling with for a while. I feel more positive and empowered to take charge of my life and make positive, healthy changes. I loved Vickie so much, I saw her again at the beginning of May. I am a huge fan of ART therapy. Vickie pours her heart into every session and her passion for her work shines through tremendously. I was also provided many resources to continue my growth. Thank you Vickie, you are amazing!

Cheryl Andy

Dr. Rattner treated me for 3 full days and 4 additional half-days almost 10 yrs ago, clearing ALL my past trauma triggers. Additionally, when I experienced an acute exacerbation of my complex PTSD of childhood symptoms/tiggers (necessitating a leave of absence from my job following the 2016 presidential election), she squeezed me in at no extra charge and healed what unfolded - previously hidden/unconscious body-based pre- & peri-natal movements/memories that quite logically had been at the root of so much of my existential ambivalence. Absolutely amazing work with a true expert in whose care I could completely trust, allowing the body to release what only it seemed to know was there. Thank you Bambi!

Grace Miller

I did an intensive retreat with Vickie that utilized ART therapy, and I’ll start by saying that many of the testimonials I read before my retreat sounded legitimately too good to be true, much like the title of the creator of ARTs book on the therapy (Too Good to Be True? By Laney Rosenzweig) and I was slightly skeptical. I felt like I had “tried everything” and was a bit nervous to fail at achieving those same results from the reviews I had seen. But doing this retreat with Vickie was nothing short of remarkable- it was freakishly effective and life altering in the best way, and I would recommend this experience to anybody in a heartbeat- but especially to people who have tried many other types of therapy over the years only to remain “stuck” in whatever their specific circumstances may be. Also, to people who enjoy structure, science, and a goal for their therapy- even if that goal is somewhat nebulous at first. Vickie is a magnificent therapist and clinician, and anyone who gets to work with her is so fortunate. She’s such a generous, kind, and wonderful person and she puts her all into this experience for clients. I will forever be grateful for her. And I will forever be grateful to Laney Rosenzweig, the creator of ART, for her amazing brain, dedication, and passion that has allowed for ART not only to be available at all, but especially in the context of an intensive retreat. I feel renewed, genuinely. If you asked me a month ago if I’d be leaving a review like this after the retreat, I would have been cautiously optimistic- yet a bit skeptical like I said above. However, I mean every word of this with every fiber of my being. I am genuinely astonished by the results I had- since the retreat I have spoken in ways about myself, my future, and my capabilities that I haven’t heard come out of my mouth in years, or ever. My capacity for self compassion and compassion for others, my trust in myself, and joy I wasn’t sure would ever come back have increased dramatically. Those closest to me have said I sound different, and notice the huge changes that I do too. Relationships that were already great have somehow gotten even better. My startle response is all but gone, I don’t have anxiety in cars, I have energy that had been gone for years, and I’ve felt truly present for the first time in ages. Things feel possible, and I have found confidence I had believed was lost forever. I’ve had little moments of having tears of gratitude and awe no less than 20 times since the middle of the retreat and it ended ten days ago.I think the most wild result, though, is that my crushing PMDD symptoms have not shown up at all, where they typically did like clockwork every two weeks and should have ten days ago. Now, am I saying my life is suddenly perfect? Most certainly not. But I am saying that with old traumas having been processed in this manner, in addition to the myriad individual positive changes I've noticed I now also feel equipped for life ups and downs in a way that I never have before. Life used to really scare me, and now it feels like a blessing and also something that I can handle when it hits the fan. A quote from Laney's book says, "To experience the therapy is to know it is real, and to see someone you love having been healed thanks to ART is to know it is real." and this statement could not be more true for me. Thank you so very much to everyone involved in this process, this was the most worthwhile thing I've ever done for myself.

Sophia Dunlap